Deputy Prime Lal Kishenchand Advani on Friday asked the Hindu and Muslim communities to arrive at an amicable settlement of the Ayodhya issue saying the government would act as the facilitator.

Reacting to the appeal by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama asking the two communities to adopt 'a mature, farsighted and open-minded' approach to resolve the temple-mosque dispute, Advani said, "The government would not only encourage but also actively participate in any serious and reasonable effort to settle the issue in an amicable manner."

Welcoming the Dalai Lama's statement, he said, "I am sure the Hindu organisations, which are endeavouring to build a temple for Shri Ram will also be keen to settle the issue by dialogue."

"I am sure that we will use whatever persuasive power we in the government and in the BJP have over those who had launched the movement for Ram Temple at Ayodhya to participate in any amicable settlement on Ayodhya," Advani said.

The Tibetan spiritual leader had said the dispute, which remained a bone of contention for over two decades but was a 'temporary aberration', could be resolved through 'mutual trust, mutual faith and mutual respect'.

Observing the recent breakthrough in Islamabad between India and Pakistan was not considered by either parties as a matter of 'victory or loss', Advani said the Ayodhya issue should also be seen in the same light.

"If a similar approach is adopted to resolve the Ayodhya issue by the two communities, it will be good for the nation as a whole," he said.

"If the Muslim community comes forward to cooperate with the Hindus in fulfilling their aspirations of building a Ram Temple at Ram Janmasthaan, the Hindus also should step forward to remove the concerns from the minds of the Muslims," he said.